Ordonez on verge of making Mariners

PEORIA, Ariz. -- A smiling Rey Ordonez insists he has done all he can to complete one of the more improbable sports comebacks in recent memory.

And the Mariners now appear ready to reward the 36-year-old infielder, out of baseball since 2004, with a spot on their opening day roster. The transformation of Ordonez, from a no-hope curiosity at the outset of camp to a guy looking like the team's backup infielder, took a giant step forward Wednesday when backup outfielder Jeremy Reed was optioned to Class AAA Tacoma.

The Mariners apparently are confident enough in the outfield skills of both Willie Bloomquist and Ben Broussard that they feel they can afford the luxury of carrying Ordonez's glove. With second baseman Jose Lopez still not at his defensive best, coming off a sprained ankle, the addition of Ordonez would give the Mariners both backup and late-game defensive insurance.

"For me, it's been a good camp," Ordonez said after Seattle's 11-8 win over the Texas Rangers at Peoria Stadium. "I haven't played for three years, so I think it went well. I feel good. I just needed a little more time to hit. But I feel good."

Joining Ordonez as another aging longshot to make the roster could be 35-year-old career minor-leaguer Jamie Burke, now the prime candidate to be the backup catcher after Rene Rivera was optioned to Class AA. Burke appears to have the job nailed down, but the team isn't announcing anything until the last minute, keeping options open should a trade materialize or a coveted player become available in late spring cuts.

The Mariners have yet to add Ordonez to the roster and also have third baseman Mike Morse still vying for a backup job. But the need for stability in the middle infield will be paramount this year, especially in the late innings, given the ground-ball tendencies of the bullpen staff.

Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said optioning Reed, the team's opening-day center fielder the past two years, was one of the harder decisions he has ever made. Reed effectively lost his job to an injury, having never regained his standing after breaking his thumb diving for a ball last July.

"With the ability Ben [Broussard] showed us to play both corner outfield positions," Hargrove said, "plus the versatility of Willie [Bloomquist] being able to play both the infield and outfield, it gave us the ability to carry an extra infielder, which we think will help this club."

Hargrove wouldn't give the nod just yet to Ordonez, who has displayed some of his 1990s wizardry in the field this spring.

"He's done a good job, as has Morse," Hargrove said. "I don't want to give anything away yet. It's not fair to anybody if I give anything away now."

Hargrove also wasn't announcing any further pitching moves, though the Wednesday optioning of lefty Eric O'Flaherty to Tacoma confirmed that struggling George Sherrill has indeed shown enough to head north. Brandon Morrow now seems destined to make the squad over Jon Huber, and it appears the team is also leaning toward keeping Rule 5 draft pick Sean White, a Mercer Island resident, as the bullpen's long reliever in place of Jake Woods.

The team apparently still has options on Woods, who would go to Class AAA. Seattle likely won't announce the pitching moves until the weekend.

Ordonez will also be holding his breath a little while longer. He last played in the majors with the Chicago Cubs in a 23-game stint in 2004 and hasn't had 35 or more games since 2002 with the Mets.

The Cuba native was nearly unnoticed when he arrived in the clubhouse here seven weeks ago, toting an old Mets duffel bag and with almost zero hope of making the squad. He had spent the past two years resting his body from nine seasons of major-league aches and pains, then played in Puerto Rico this past winter.

The Mariners invited him to camp almost as a favor, to see whether he had anything left and perhaps acquire minor-league depth or trade bait. While he hit just .227, his range, smooth hands and the fluidity with which he turned double plays at second base and shortstop opened plenty of eyes.

"I got plenty of rest," Ordonez admitted with a laugh. "But it's not easy taking years off, especially from the major leagues. The hitting was the hardest part, getting back your timing and vision, but you've just got to try to hit the ball good. I'm trying the best I can."

And he feels he has left it all out on the field. That's why he claims his nerves won't get the better of him as Sunday's noon roster deadline approaches.

"I'll either stay here, or go to another team," he said with a shrug and another smile. "But I want to stay here."

Geoff Baker: 206-464-8286 or gbaker@seattletimes.com.

Read his daily blog at www.seattletimes.com/Mariners